Proud uncle in tears as niece, 21, wins World Bowls Championship 10 years after she was spotted in crowd cheering HIM on
A PROUD uncle broke down in tears as his niece won the World Indoor Bowls Championships – ten years after she cheered HIM on.
Beth Riva, 21, teamed up with Jason Banks to secure the mixed pairs crown on her debut at the showcase tournament in Great Yarmouth.
The Scottish pair beat the all-star duo of Paul Foster and Katherine Rednall 12-5 10-10 in the final.
Foster is a five-time men’s champ while Rednall has six women’s titles to her name.
But their hopes were burst by Riva and Banks.
And Riva’s uncle Alex Marshall was in floods of tears when victory and £20,000 prize was confirmed.
Bowls legend Marshall won no fewer than 14 World Indoor Bowls Championships gold medals between 1995 and 2019.
And incredible throwback footage showed her in the crowd aged 11 supporting Marshall at the 2015 event at Potters Resort.
Riva said: “I hope I didn’t put him through the wringer too much there.
“I’ve sat there supporting Paul so many times when he has been playing with Alex.
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“We have had a lot of chats this week about my uncle, and me coming down here when I was younger and supporting him and supporting his success around the world.
“It is really special to be here and share this moment with him.
“Katherine is one of the best players on the planet, especially here on this rink.
“I am just trying to wrap my head around it.”
Just 24 hours earlier, Banks, 28, had clinched the men’s doubles title alongside Michael Stepney.
And defeated mixed pairs finalist Foster was magnanimous as he lauded praise on Riva and Banks.
Foster – who paired with Marshall for four Commonwealth Games golds – said: “I am very proud of her and I am glad she has won her first world title and there will be many more to come.
“Beth, for her first time at the World Championships, to play on the portable rink, which can be very, very daunting, she has taken it in her stride, as if she has been here for years.
“She and Jason are the future of bowls.”
Riva – who is studying law at Edinburgh Napier University – returns to the rink on Wednesday when she faces Chelsea Spencer in the ladies’ singles semi-final with hopes of a dream debut double still very much on.